Till there are no stars left in the sky

Part 7

Aurora let the steaming water and mist stream freely over her body for a great while. She was by now long clean from the grim that had laid claim on her since her arrival. The feeling of the cascade and warmth enveloped her from every side and did much to calm her ridged and sore muscles. She gathered her wit about her and began to mentally prepare herself for the next trial she would no doubt be subject to. She knew she must regain a hold on her emotions, they seemed at the moment only hinder the power she must learn to master. As Aurora finally stepped from the shower wrapping a towel around her she thought back to when she first felt the force. It coursed through her when in battle for her life. When she had surrendered to it, it was like the world had slowed to allow her the upper hand. She thought of the great power her oppressor held on her, he could move and bend objects to submit to his will. She slowly dressed in a plain outfit of different shades of gray that was left for her in the dresser. The pants hung loosely at her hips made of the softest material she had ever felt. The shirt was a fitted tunic made of the same exquisite craftsmanship. The collar dipped just below the defined line of her clavicle which gave glimpse to a small jagged scar she would rather not remember. One given to her when she was almost too young to remember, almost. Shaking the unwanted memory from her mind she tugged the collar higher and brought her attention back to wondering how or where to start to obtain such a power. Aurora looked around the room, eyes falling on a small brush that sat on her dresser. She scrunched her forehead in focus trying to move the object willing it with her mind. Letting out a shaky breath she reminded herself to breath. After a moment she tried again, straining until her head hurt. She realized after the fifth try this undertaking would not be an easy one. She had no military background, no scholarly degrees; no physical endurance to equip her for what she dreaded was to come. Disappointment reared its ugly head to taunt her. She was supposed to possess capabilities of greatness, but here she couldn't budge this meager object. After another hour of defeat, mental fatigue took its toll. She resigned herself of this insignificant trail and made her way towards the bed. Carefully she crawled into the warm and welcoming embrace scared it could be a trap. As her muscles relaxed she fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.

Her body awoke to the sound of the door as it swished open admitting two armed stormtroopers armed with blasters pointed. Instinct kicked in as she crouched into a defensive stance. She had no weapon and dread grew at the remembrance of her last encounter with their kind. They halted at the sight of her, she looked like a caged beast and they knew better then to rush in. They were fairy warned she was connected to the force, and they knew even untrained she could be dangerous. "You have been summoned." A muffled voice announced as he withdrew something from his utility belt. His mask never left her line of sight. A glance down at his hands revealed a pair of handcuffs. He tossed them toward her and land with a clink on the bed. "Put those on, and don't try anything." The first trooper ordered. Impatience was thick in his voice. Aurora fought the urge to attack the man in a rash manor. She tried to use logic which would tell her fighting at this stage would not gain her any ground. She wouldn't last more than mere minutes if that were she to defy the order. She also knew defying the dark one who gave the order would earn her an unpleasant dose of consequence. He was resilient and creative, and he probably already had some twisted punishment to bring her to her knees if she so decided to fail to comply when simply requested. She decided this was her first test to prove she would submit. To accomplish her retribution against him she would need his knowledge and training. This is the first step she repeated in her own head. She kept it on repeat like a mantra as she slid the cuffs on her small wrists. She clicked them shut careful not to tighten them too much. Forcefully she was grabbed by rough hands securing her wrist clamping the bonds tighter so that the metal bit into her skin. She could feel their distain towards her mixed with fear. She was shoved forward by the unspoken one, his blaster prodding her in the back. "Get moving." He spat as he broke the silence. Another hard push and she stumbled forward following the first armored guard. A strange sensation came over her as they turned yet another corner after they had been walking for a great deal of time. Kylo Ren was near. Shock and curiosity nudged at her, how could she possibly know that? Maybe anxiety was playing games on her and she was experiencing nothing more than a heighten fearful sensation. Her uncertainty took on a different form as they abruptly came to a halt in a large room. The room must have been used for training and combat. It was sectioned off into several separate arenas by thick cords; different melee weapons adorned the walls like unclaimed trophies. Any close investigation showed gross amounts of dried blood stains not successfully washed away. Aurora gulped trying hard no to contemplate the number of lives who met their fate in this room. The First Order from all she observed didn't seem like the type to coddle the weak. Her eyes wide and alert fell upon the towering form waiting for her at the room's center. He worn the same garb he had darned at each encounter she could remember, hands clasped behind him at ease. The guards that had escorted her here made a hasty exit with one nod from their superior. To her this was a relief; she would not be engaging them today. If she was lucky maybe she would make it through today with all her bones intact. She turned her head to follow their retreat just to be completely sure.